Apparatus for controlling a movable web



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May 11, 1937.

G. R. WEBBER APPQRATUS FOR CONTROLLING A MOVABLE WEB 7 Filed July 17, 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR fi 'uy K W 714220, $444M ATTORNW Patented May 11, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR CONTROIJJNG A MOVABLE WEB George B. Webber, Palisades, N. 1., assignor to,

Standard Brands Incorporated, New York, N. Y., a corporation of Delaware Application July 17, 1931, Serial No. 551,331 20 Claims. (01. 271-215) This invention relates to apparatus for conto the following detailed description taken in controlling the running or feeding of continuous nection with the accompanying drawings, in webs, and more particularly to web feeding as which: applied to article wrapping wherein a continu- Fig. 1 is asomwhat diagram representa- 5 ous web of labelled wrapping material which is tion of one embodiment of the present invention 5 adapted to cover a series of articles is cut accumounted on certain parts of a wrapper cutting rately into individual lengths suitable for wrapmachine and comprising control means for use ping each article. with a web having a light reflecting surface in General objects of the invention are to provide accordance with the present invention, some of a suitable means for assuring proper registry bethe parts being illustrated in planes other than 10 tween a continuous movable web and means for t ose they occupy in the operative assembly of operating thereon, and especially to assure such the machine, this being done more conveniently registry between a severed wrapper and an article to show the working arrangement of the device; to be wrapped. Fig. 2 is a side elevation taken along line 2--2 More specifically, the invention has for an obof Fig. 1, and illustrating the web gripping and 15 ject the provision of control means whereby a feeding mechanism shown in that figure; continuous web of wrapping material having Fig. 3 is a plan view of the web gripping mechspaced labels or other indicia or marking thereon anism taken along line 3-4 of Fig. 1, and showing can always be automatically severed at a point the mechanism in gripping position;

33 which is properly located with respect to such Fig. 4 is a plan view similar to Fig. 3, but label or marking, so as to obtain proper registry showing the mechanism in non-gripping position; between the label portion of each wrapper and and the article being wrapped, even when the spaces Fig. 5 is a sectional view of certain parts of the between succeeding label portions are irregular or control equipment showing another embodiment,

disarranged. adapted for use with another type of web. 23

In one aspect, the invention accordingly con- Heretofore it has for the most part been impostemplates provision of a wrapper apparatus which sible satisfactorily to utilize a wrapping material is competent satisfactorily to utilize continuous in the form of a web or strip having label porweb wrapping material which has labels printed tions printed or afllxed thereon even when spaced directly thereon at definite intervals, wherebyat definite intervals, because of the difliculty enresort to subsequently aflixed labels or all-over countered in maintaining satisfactory registry bemultiple label patterns is obviated. tween each wrapper and the article being A further object of the invention is the prowrapped. When the wrapper web is made of metvision of control means which is adapted eifecal foil, temperature changes materially alter the tively to regulate the point of severance of a condistance between labels. In the case of paper and 5 tinuous wrapping web regardlem of the nature other materials, changes in atmospheric condiof the particular wrapping material which is emtions, such as excessive humidity or aridity, effect ployed, and which cannot mutilate the web. expansion or contraction of the continuous la- Another object of the invention is to provide belied web, and s0 di arran e the Original Spacing 4: control equipment which is readily applicable to of the labels. There may also be a slight and 0 conventional wrapper feeding and cutting mavariable slippage and stretching of the web in the chines in present use, which will determine with devices that feed it to the wrapping mechanism, increased nicety and precision the proper point especially if the web is intermittently fed.

of severance of individual wrappers. Such variations, even though quite minute in Other objects of the invention will in part be individual instances, soon accumulate to an ap- 45 obvious and will in part appear hereinafter. preciable error during progressive feeding of the The invention accordingly comprises the appawrapping web, and cause loss of registry between ratus embodying features of construction, comthe label and the wrapped article. This error binations of elements and arrangement of parts. sometimes becomes so pronounced that the cutwhich are adapted to carry into effect the several ting knife will sever the label, instead of cutting 50 objects, all as exemplified in the following deat a properly allocated point between labels. tailed disclosure, and the scope of the application Further dimculty has previously been enof which willbe indicated in the claims. countered when wrapping articles of a moisture For a fuller understanding of the nature and exuding nature. Also, in some wrapping operaobjects of the invention reference should be had tions it is preferable to dampen the wrappers 55 so that the package will hold its shape better when dry. The presence of moisture is apt to interfere with the proper functioning of certain kinds of previously tried cutting control devices.

These difiiculties heretofore have precluded satisfactory usage of continuous strip wrappers having labels printed directly thereon, and have compelled utilization of separately aflixed labels which are glued or otherwise fastened to the article after the wrapping is otherwise completed.

This method has certain undesired characteristics, especially in the case of small packages of food products, where in some instances an accidential excess of glue may result in seepage from under the label which causes individual packages to adhere to one another when in contact. It is also an advantage to have the wrapper and label integral, as accidental or intentional removal of the label is thus avoided.

Another method which has been resorted to because of difficulties encountered in properly registering wrappers with articles is the printing of a multiple or "all-over" label pattern on the wrapper in such a manner that the printed matter will be distinguishable without regard to the relative positions of the wrapper and the enclosed article. This method is not satisfacto y where the article is small and the amount of printing, such as instructions, is desirably such as to require considerable space, or where it is desired to produce a package which is easily distinguishable at a glance and of uniform appearance when stacked or displayed in multiple.

A control device produced in accordance with the present invention accurately controls the cutting operation and admirably overcomes the difficulties heretofore experienced in continuous web wrapping. It is not affected by moisture, .and as there are no contacts or brushes which are required to touch the wrapping medium, it is not made inoperative by foreign mat ter picked up from the wrapper and cannot scratch or tear the wrapper.

The present device is further advantageous in that it can be used in conjunction .with any wrapping material which can be supplied in strip form, such as waxed or oiled papers, different kinds of metal foil, cloth, cardboard and other materials, whether they be transparent, translucent or opaque. In addition to being usable with continuous strips bearing labels printed or pasted thereon, the present device is adapted to cooperate with wrapping material on which the label or other design is embossed. Such varied materials are herein generally referred to as a fweb, and it is intended that such expression shall, in the present specification and claims, be deemed to describe generically such materials wherever the context permits.

Considered generally, this invention contemplates an arrangement wherein a suitable beam of light is brought to bear on a point in the path of a continuous web provided with spaced markings, from which web it is reflected or through which web it is passed to a light sensitive device which passes electric current in ratio to the amount of light cast upon it, such as a standard photo-electric cell, a photo-glow tube, or a selenium cell, so that as the intensity of the light reaching the light sensitive device is varied by means of the markings passing the point on which the beam of light bears, the current passed by the light sensitive device is used to control a registered operation or opera- 'a label, a dark spot, a perforation, embossing,

or the like on the web. Thus, if labels are employed as the light'affecting means, successive cutting operations can be controlled by and made to depend upon successive label positions as the labelled wrapping web is passed by or across the light beam path.

Referring more particularly to the drawings and especially to Fig. 1, there is shown an intermittent feed type of wrapper cutting machine, which is adapted to pull forward and sever individual wrappers from a continuous foil wrapper web Ill bearing a series of labels II which may be printed, glued, or embossed thereon, and which preferably were originally spaced at equal distances to permit cutting of wrappers of a suitable length for wrapping any given article. This original spacing may have become disarranged under any of the hereinbefore described adverse conditions. Web 40 is fed from a roll or magazine l2 over a guide roller I3 downwardly to the intermittent feed mechanism.

This feed mechanism comprises a pair of grippers H and I5, best shown in Figs. 3 and 4, the

former being rigid with a head I6. Gripper I5 is somewhat resilient and is pivotally mounted on head I by means of a pivot ll positioned at a point intermediate the ends of the gripper. These grippers are adapted to grasp the edge of Web ID when in the closed position illustrated in Fig. 3, and can release such edge when pivoted gripper i5 is swung to its open position illustrated in Fig. 4. Suitable mechanical means are provided for opening and closing the grippers, comprising a link I! pivoted at H! to one end of movable gripper l5, and pivotally articulated at its other end to a lever 20, by means of a.

pivot 2|. The lever 20 is oscillatably mounted on head ii at pivot 22, and carries a roller 23 at its outermost end. This roller is adapted to be engaged by a lever which is designed to shift the position of lever 20 in the manner which is about to be described. A tension spring 24 is extended between a pin 25 situated on the movable gripper near pivot l9 and a pin 25' fixed to head l6. Clockwise rotation of lever 20 brings the grippers into closed position (Fig. 3) with the pivot joint at 2| between lever 20 and link ll swung to its outermost position, bringing a portion 26 of link l8 into engagement with a jaw 21 on head l6. When the gripper parts are thus closed, spring 24 tends to maintain lever 20 and link l8 in this outwardly buckled position with link portion 26 arrested by jaw 21, thus maintaining the outer ends of grippers H and IS in gripping engagement with web in, gripper i5 being slightly flexed if desired.

Movable gripper l5 can be caused to assume the open position shown in Fig. 4 by pushing the roller 23 in a counter-clockwise direction, causing pivot 2| to move inwardly pulling link l8 to the left (Fig. 4), thus causing gripper I5 to swing outwardly in a clockwise direction. When lever 20 has been so moved, spring 24 will then hold such lever and link [8 in an inwardly buckled position with an enlargement 23 of link l9 brought into arresting contact with jaw 21. It will thus be seen that spring 24 cooperates with parts i3 and 20 in such a manner that it is capable of holding gripper [5 in either open or closed position.

Head [6 carrying grippers l4 and I5 and their associated elements, is fixed to and vertically movable with the upper end of a reciprocating rod 29, which is shown in its lowermost position in Figs. 1 and 2. Rod 29 is slidable through a rotatable guideway 30 and is pivoted at its lower end to an oscillating lever 3| which is pivotally mounted for swinging movement about a fixed shaft 32. The opposite end of lever 3! is provided with a cam projection 33 which operates in a cam groove 34 on a rotary cam member 35, which is keyed to and driven by a drive shaft 36. Rotation of cam 35 causes rod 29 to operate in a substantially reciprocatory path, grippers i4 and I5 being carried up and down therewith.

Suitable mechanical means are provided for causing gripper 15 to close on and grasp web ID when head it is at or near its uppermost position and to release such web when the head approaches or reaches its lowermost position. This means comprises an eccentric 31 keyed to drive shaft 36 and carrying a pitman 38 which is pivoted at 39 to an oscillatable lever 4|! which is mounted for swinging movement on a fixed shaft 40. Lever 40 is provided at one upper corner with a flange 4| which is adapted to project into the path of roller 23, and is provided with an additional flange 42 which also is adapted to project into the path of roller 23 on the opposite side thereof from flange 4i.

Cam 35 and eccentric 31 are so positioned on drive shaft 36 that as rod 29 and its associated grippers reach their lowermost position illustrated in Fig. 2, flange 42 on lever 40 is rocked toward roller 23 and pushes the same to the position shown in Fig. 4, thus opening gripper I5 and effecting release of web Hi. This mechanical means for releasing the web is superseded by the hereinafter described improvements, however, and only is used when such improved structure is not employed. Spring 24 will hold gripper IS in this open position during the subsequent upward traverse of head l6. As the grippers reach the uppermost limit of this traverse, eccentric 31 pulls lever 40 in a counterclockwise direction, bringing flange into engagement with roller 23 and pushing the same into its gripper closing position shown in Fig. 3, in which position it is held by spring 24. The web ill, with its edge thus grippers is pulled downwardly therewith durin the subsequent downward traverse of head ii. The downward movement of grippers l4 and I5 approximately corresponds to but is desirably slightly longer than the length of a single individual wrapper.

When web in has been fed forwardly a single wrapper length, such length is cut off by means of a fixed knife blade 43 and a cooperating movable blade 43a, which is synchronized with drive shaft 33 so as to efiect its cutting operation shortly after gripper l5 has been released from the web. that is, shortly after head l5 approaches or reaches its lowermost position. When the wrapper has been severed, it is thereafter handled by suitable wrapping mechanism, which is not shown, but which is operated in synchronism with drive shaft 36.

The mechanical feeding and cutting mechaclamped' between the nism thus far described is of conventional form and constitutes no part of the present invention except insofar as it is utilized in combination with the novel cutting control apparatus which has been provided therefor.

With the mechanism as thus far described, it will be apparent that unless the spacing of the labels and the feeding of the web is absolutely uniform, the point at which blade 43a severs the web will vary with respect to the label edge, so that registry between the label and the wrapped article will be lost.

In its preferred form this novel control apparatus constitutes a separate unit which is applicable to the described type of intermittent feeding mechanism or to any other similar or desired feeding mechanism as will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The novel control means shown in the present embodiment of the invention for use with a foil wrapper has a suitable light source 44, such as a filament, which is connected by leads 45 and 45a, to the terminals 43 and 41 of a main switch 48 which is adapted to be thrown into contact with a suitable source of electric current such as generator 49. A control switch 59 is preferably inserted in this light circuit.

Filament 44 is mounted in a housing 5| and light from such filament is concentrated as by means of a reflector 52 on a point 53 on the label bearing surface of web III. This light beam is projected through an aperture 54 which is provided therefor in a wall of housing 5!. For convenience of description it will be assumed in the present case that web III is formed of bright metal foil and that labels II are of such a nature that they are less competent to reflect light rays than is this bright foil.

The beam of light which has been concentrated at point 53 is reflected from the foil surface on to a photo-electric or other light sensitive cell 55. The reflected light beam may be passed through a small window (not shown) on to the light cell or may, if desired, be concentrated thereon by means of a lens or by a suitable reflector such as 55. The photo-electric cell 55 is also mounted in housing 5|, and this entire housing is adjustable with respect to its base 56 by means of clamping screws 51 operating in slots 53.

Leads 59 and 30 of a main control circuit are run from terminals 45 and 41 to an electro-magnet 6! mounted on reciprocating head IS, the structure and function of which will be more fully described hereinafter.

Wires 52 and 33 of a pilot circuit are tapped into main leads 59 and 53 and run to an amplifier unit 64, which may be of any suitable known construction. Induced current is passed from unit 64 to one terminal of photo-electric cell 55 through wire 65, and through such cell back to unit 54 through wire 55, where it is stepped up and then passed through wire 61, about the winding 59 of a relay having a core 59, and back to unit 54 through wire 10.

The main control lead 59 is connected to a pivoted switch or armature ll of the aforementioned relay. Switch 1| is normally urged into engagement with a contact 12 by means of a tension spring 13. When switch II is thus closed current passes from terminal I2 through a closed control switch 14 to the winding of electro-magnet 6i, and returns along lead 60 through a switch 15 to terminal 41.

Magnet ii is mounted on and movable with 'Z DU "ZUlL reciprocating head I6. It has a core 16 opposite which is disposed a pivoted plate armature 11 mounted at its upper end for swinging movement on a standard 18 to which the magnet also is conveniently fastened. The lower end of plate armature 11 extends over a lug 19, which forms an upstanding portion of a small link 60, which is pivotally attached to pivot 2|. When the grippers l4 and i5 are in their closed position and pivot 2! is swung to its outermost position (Fig. 3) lug 19 pulls armature 11 outwardly away from core 16 of the electro-magnet. When this magnet is energized, armature 11 is pulled inwardly, carrying with it lug 19 and pivot 2|, thus causing lever 20 and link l8 to assume their inwardly buckled position (Fig. 4), and effecting opening of the grippers. It will thus be apparent that web ID will be released by grippers l4 and IS the moment electro-magnet 6| is energized.

I'he function of switch 15 is to deenergize magnet 6! after the grippers have once been opened thereby, to permit subsequent closure of these grippers for a succeeding operation. A preferred type of switch for this purpose is the mercury switch shown in Fig. l, which comprises a pair of contacts 8! and 82 which are extended into a normally horizontal tube 83 containing a small amount of mercury 84 which immerses and maintains contact between terminals II and 82 when the tube 33 is substantially horizontal. The inclination of this tube causes the mercury to run to one end thereof and uncover one of the switch terminals, thus opening the circuit. In order thus to incline tube 83, the same is mounted on an oscillatable lever which is rocked by a link 86 which may be driven directly or indirectly by a drive shaft 36. Movement of lever 85 is suitably synchronized with re spect to the other elements driven by drive shaft 38 to effect tilting thereof and consequent opening of switch 15 shortly after movable gripper 15 has been opened, that is, as or shortly after head l6 reaches its lowermost position. In many types of conventional wrapping and cutting machines there is usually to be found at'least one rocking arm associated with the folding or wrapping apparatus which is driven from the common drive shaft such as that illustrated at 36 in the present embodiment, and which in the performance of its function has its rocking movement at a point in the cycle of machine operations which enables it to be used as a mounting for switch 15. When the machine to which the present improved feed control is applied possesses such a properly timed rocking arm or lever it is, of course, not necessary to provide any special or further equipment for tilting the mercury switch. When a suitable switch mounting of this type is not already available on the machine, it will be readily appreciated that any simple and suitable mechanical movement may be utilized to tilt switch 15 shortly after gripper i5 has been opened by the electro-magnet 6|. Such movement may obviously be actuated by a suitable cam mounted on drive shaft 36 in rubbing contact with an arm such as 86. Such cam naturally should have its greatest eccentric throw at some time during the time interval occupied by the upward stroke of head l6, and to this end is properly located with reference to cam 35.

In operation, main switch 48 and control switches 50 and 14 are closed, thus lighting filament 44 and putting main control circuit 59-40 in readiness for operation. Drive shaft 36 is then rotated by any suitable power means, setting the feeding and cutting mechanism into operation. As head 16, carried by rod 29, reaches the uppermost limit of its traverse, eccentric 31, through pitman 38 and lever 40, pulls flange 4i into engagement with roller 23, moving the same in a clockwise direction and causing the grippers to grasp the edge of web ill, in which position they are held by spring 24 during subsequent downward movement of head I6. As web 10 is thus pulled downwardly, one of the labels Ii is caused to approach aperture 54 through which the beam of light from 44 is shining. So long as this beam impinges upon and is reflected from the bright metallic foil portion between labels, a maximum of light is cast upon photo-electric cell 55. Accordingly, a maximum amount of current flows from 65 through the cell, through the amplifier means, and around winding 68 of the relay. When the current in the pilot circuit is thus at its maximum value, core 69 of the relay attracts armature 1|, overcoming the tension of spring 13 and breaking contact at 12, thus maintaining the main control circuit and magnet Si in deenergized condition.

Just as the forward edge of label Ii reaches point 53 the intensity of the light beam cast on photo-electric cell is diminished through absorption or diffusion of the light rays, whereby the passage of current through the photo-electric cell is either materially decreased or entirely suspended. This decrease in the amount of current in the pilot circuit effects a consequent decrease in the attraction of core 69 for switch 1! and enables spring 13 to move such switch into engagement with contact 12, thus closing the main control circuit, since switch 15 is at this time in horizontal position.

As magnet Si is thus energized, plate armature 11 is pulled inwardly, a counter-clockwise direction and opening the grippers to release web l0. Magnet 6| which is thus controlled by one of the labels ii, in this manner determines the precise point at which forward feeding of web I0 is stopped. Any subsequent downward movement of head [6 cannot effect any forward movement of the web, since the grippers no longer grasp the latter. The means for mechanically opening the grippers, comprising lever 40 and flange 42, does not come into play until shortly after the operation of magnet GI, and consequently this mechanical release. means is not utilized unless for some reason the electrical control should not be operated.

Shortly after forward feeding of web l0 has been stopped by release of gripper IS, the continued movement of drive shaft 36 causes knife 63a to effect a cutting operation, after which the severed individual wrappers are suitably handled by the wrapping machinery. Since the distance from point 53 to covering means 4343a is held constant subject to adjustment at 51-51, it follows that the point of severance of each wrapper will be properly located with reference to its label ll.

Shortly after actuation of electro-magnet GI, and release of the web, further movement of drive shaft 36 causes tilting of arm 85 and consequent breaking of the main control circuit at switch 15. This switch is held open during the subsequent upward movement and part of the downward movement of head 16, until some time after switch 1| has again been attracted thus rotating lever 20 in I away from contact I2, after which switch 15 is returned to horizontal position for subsequent Operation. As has been explained, with some types of wrapping machinery, there is already present an arm such as 85 having a cycle of operation which makes it suitable for carrying switch I5, in which case such switch can be directly attached thereto. without necessitating provision of any special equipment therefor.

Continued rotation of drive shaft 36 and cam 35 efiects return of head I6 to its uppermost position, where lever 40 again causes closure of the grippers on the web, and the operation is repeated. If the nature of web III and labels II is such that more light is reflected by the label than by the web proper, the apparatus can be similarly operated under these altered conditions by opening switch I4 and closing switch 86, which connects a terminal 81 to lead 59. In this case, as label II reaches point 53 a maximum of light will be cast on the photo-electric cell, effecting movement of switch 'II toward core 69 and causing closure of the main control circuit at contact 81, thus energizing magnet GI and effecting release of the gripper means.

If web I and labels II have substantially equal light reflecting properties, operation of the apparatus can be effected by placing a series of small light absorbing dots on the web in proper relation to each label. Movement of these dots across point 53 will effect operation of the control means in the manner first described above. Such use of control dots on a web in conjunction with a light sensitive control is also generally useful in other applications of the invention.

In Fig. there is shown another embodiment which is adapted for use with a web III! which is transparent or translucent, and with labels or dots I I I which are relatively opaque. In this arrangement light from a filament I is focused by means of a suitable reflector I52 on a point I53 at the surface of web H0, and is passed through such web to a photo-electric cell I55, which is mounted in a longitudinally adjustable housing I52. Cell I55 is connected to an amplifier unit I64 in the same manner as cell 55 is connected to unit 64 in the first described modification. The various other mechanisms and connections are the same as in such first described form of the invention. In this case operation of the apparatus is exactly the same, except that variations in the illumination on cell I55 are effected by cutting a light beam which passes through A the web instead of being reflected therefrom.

This form is especially useful, for example, in bread wrapping where waxd paper or other similar light pervious wrapper materials are used.

The form shown in Fig. 5 can also. be used where the web III) is both opaque and incapable of suitably reflecting a light beam. In this case a series of small apertures are cut in the web in proper relationship to the labels which are spaced thereon, and these apertures are successively brought to pass a point I53 in order to affect the light beam cast upon cell I55. Since with this arrangement a maximum of light will be cast upon the cellas each aperture reaches point I53, it will be convenient to utilize the above described alternative circuit wherein switch 14 -is open and switch 86 is closed.

From the foregoing it will be seen that the markings or figures associated with the fed portions of the web, such as labels, dots, perforations and the like, each modulate the beam of light projected from the light source provided whether the beam be reflected as shown in Fig. l or passed through the web as shown in Fig. 5, in both arrangements the web being under the continuous control of the light projected. The control of the actuating current responds instantaneously to the modulations in the beam, and as a result relatively high operating speeds are attainable with the apparatus of the present invention.

Since certain changes in carrying out the above process and in the constructions set forth, which embody the invention may be made without departing from its scope, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not ina limiting sense.

It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the invention herein described, and all statements of the scope of the invention which, as a matter of language, might be said to fall therebetween.

Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. In apparatus including a cutting mechanism for cutting individual wrappers from a continuous web or wrapping material having portions with different light qualities, the combination comprising mechanism for pping said web and moving it to the cutting mechanism, a photo-electric cell, a light source arranged to cast light from said web to said cell, control means regulated by said cell for lncapacitating said gripping mechanism and determining the place at which said cutting mechanism shall sever the web, said control means being actuated in response to light variations effected by said different web portions, 9. device for restoring said control means to a condition for repeated operation, and means operable in timed relation with said device for causing said gripping mechanism to restart said web.

2. In apparatus including a cutting mechanism for cutting wrappers from a continuous web of wrapping material provided with successively recurring labels, the combination comprising mechanism for gripping said web and moving it to the cutting mechanism, light responsive control means regulated by light which has been affected by one of said labels directly operable to incapacitate said gripping mechanism for determining the place at which said cutting mechanism shall sever the web, and means for restoring said light responsive control means and said gripping mechanism to a condition for repeated operation.

3. In apparatus including a cutter for cutting wrappers from a continuous web of wrapping material having portions with different light qualities the combination comprising, feeding mechanism for gripping and intermittently moving said web in one direction to the cutter, light responsive control means directly operable to stop feeding movement of said web in response to variations in light intensity effected by said difierent web portions, and a device operating in timed relation with said control means for restoring the apparatus to webfeecling condition upon each stoppage by said control means.

4. In apparatus including a cutter for cutting wrappers from a continuous web of wrapping material, having portions with different light transmitting qualities, the combination comprising, feeding mechanism for gripping and intermittently moving said web in one direction to the cutter, a device for releasing said mechanism from said web, a light responsive element, a light source for casting a beam of light on said web and thence to said element, control means regulated by said element for directly actuating said releasing device so as to release the web at the time the intensity of said beam is materially varied by one of said web portions, and a device for mechanically restoring said gr pping mechanism to web feeding position for a repeated operation.

5. Apparatus for controlling operations on a web having light afiecting marks thereon, comprising, feeding mechanism including a reciprocating gripper, means for closing said gripper on said web, a magnet for releasing said gripper, a light source for casting a light beam in the path of said marks, an energizing circuit for said magnet including a light sensitive cell in the path of said light beam and arranged to energize said magnet when one of said marks intercepts such beam, means for holding said gripper in released condition after actuation of said magnet, and means for deenergizing said magnet after said last named holding means operates.

6. Apparatus for controlling operations on a web having portions with difierent light transmitting properties, comprising, means for operating on said web relatively to said difi'erent light transmitting portions, a gripper, means for imparting web feeding motion to said pper, mechanism for closing said gripper on said web and for releasing it therefrom, in combination with light responsive control means regulated by light which has been ailected by said different web portions directly operable to release said gripper prior to the releasing action of said mechanism, and means for placing said light responsive control means in condition for a repeated operation after the releasing action of said mechanism.

'7. In a web-registering device, the combination with a support for a reel of wrapping material having a recurrent opaque label or pattern thereon, of means for intermittently pulling off material from said reel in a continuous web, a source of light arranged to project light onto said web, a photoelectric cell arranged to be illuminated by the light projected onto said web, mechanism controlled by said cell for incapacltating said web-feeding means, and a device for rehabilitating it after an interval of time.

8. In a web-registering device, the combination with means for feeding a web of wrapping material having a recurrent opaque label or pattern thereon, of a source of light arranged to project light onto said web, a photoelectric cell arranged to be illuminated by the light projected onto said web, mechanism controlled by said cell for incapacitating said web-feeding means, and a device for rehabilitating it after an interval of time, said source of light including an electric lamp arranged on one side of said web, and said photoelectric cell being disposed on the other side of said web, whereby the labelled portion of the web will obstruct the light projected from said lamp onto said web.

9. In a web-registering device, the combination with a support for a reel of wrapping material having thereon a recurrent pattern, of optical characteristics substantially different from the remainder of the web, of means for intermittently pulling oil wrapping material from said reel in a continuous web, a source of light arranged to project light onto said web and the patterns thereon, a photo sensitive device arranged to be illuminated by the light projected on said web URUSS KLl'LlilllibE.

and patterns, and mechanism controlled by said device acting on said web feeding means to stop the web when a pattern on the web reaches a predetermined position, and means periodically operating to start the stopped web.

10. In apparatus for controlling a continuous web having portions with different light transmitting qualities, the combination comprising feeding mechanism for gripping and moving said web in one direction, a magnet, means controlled thereby operable to stop feedng movement 0. said web, an energizing circuit for said magnet including a relay, a photo-cell in circuit with said relay, 9. light source for casting a beam of light on said web and thence to said cell whereby material variations in the intensity of said light beam caused by said difierent web portions effect operation of said relay to control energization of said magnet, and a device operating periodically to restore said web stopping means to condition for a repeated operation.

11. In apparatus for controlling a continuous web having light affecting markings thereon, the combination comprising mechanism for gripping and feeding said web, mechanism including and controlled by a magnet for incapacitating said feeding mechanism, a light source for casting a light beam in the path of said markings, an energizing circuit for said magnet including a relay for opening and closing the magnet circuit and a light sensitive cell in the path of said light beam arranged to control the operation of said relay in accordance with the passage of said markings across said light beam, and mechanism operating in timed relation with said feeding mechanism for periodically restoring such feeding mechanism to condition for continued operation after each operation of said incapacitating mechanism.

12. In apparatus for controlling a continuous web having recurrent light modulating figures, the combination comprising means for periodically supplying a portion of said web, means for projecting a beam of light into the path of a figure on a supplied portion of said web whereby a modulated light beam results, electric means including a controlling photo-sensitive element cooperating with said light projecting means for supplying actuating current responsive to the modulations of said beam, means actuated by said actuating current for incapacitating said web-supplying means, and means functioning in a desired sequence after the operation of said actuating means for rehabilitating said web-supplying means.

13. In apparatus for controlling a continuous web having markings at recurrent intervals that are capable of modulating light, the combination comprising means providing a supply from said web, means operating cyclically and capable of normally gripping and drawing away a portion of said web from said supply in excess of that required, means for maintaining said gripping means in web-engaging condition for a predetermined period during an operating cycle, means for projecting a beam of light into the path of a marking associated with a fed portion of the web whereby a modulated beam results, electric means including a controlling photo-sensitive element cooperating with said light proiecting means for supplying actuating current responsive to the modulations produced, means actuated by said actuating current for rendering said maintaining means inoperative for the remainder of a feeding period upon the conjunction of the projected beam with one of said markings, and means for restoring the control of said actuating means to said maintaining means at a desired instant in said operating cycle.

14. In apparatus for feeding a web to packaging machines and the like which include web-severing means, the combination comprising means for supplying a continuous web that has recurrent figures capable of modulating light, means operated cyclically for feeding a portion of the web to the severing means for a desired period during an operating cycle, means for projecting a beam of light into the path of a figure associated with a portion of said web being fed, electric means including a controlling photo-sensitive element cooperating with said light projecting means for supplying actuating current responsive to the modulations of said beam produced upon conjunction of the beam with a figure of said fed portion, means operated by said actuating current for incapacitating said web-feeding means upon the occurrence of a predetermined modulation produced by said conjunction, and means for restoring said feeding means to operating condition at a desired instant in an operating cycle.

15. In apparatus for feeding a web to packaging machines and the like which include websevering means, the combination comprising means for supplying a continuous web that has recurrent markings capable of modulating light, means operated cyclically for gripping a portion of the web and feeding the same to the severing means for a desired portion of an operating cycle, means for projecting a beam of light into the path of a marking associated with a portion of said web being fed, electric means including a controlling photo-sensitive element cooperating with said light projecting means for supplying actuating current responsive to the modulations of said beam which occur upon the conjunction of the beam with a figure of said fed portion, an electric circuit for said actuating current, an electromagnet in said circuit for moving said web-gripping means to a biased ungripping position for the remainder of an operating cycle upon the occurrence of said conjunction, a switch in said circuit arranged to be normally closed and connected to be opened when said electromagnet is actuated, and means for restoring said ipping means to web-engaging position and closing said switch at the end of an operating cycle.

16. In apparatus for controlling a continuous web having recurrent markings thereon that are capable of modulating light, the combination comprising means for operating on said web in predetermined relation to said markings, feeding means for supplying said web to said operating means, an electric control device for regulating said feeding means so as to efiect registration of said operating means with respect to said markings, an electric circuit for said control device including means for governing the current which actuates said device, a pilot circuit for operating said governing means, a photo-responsive element actuating said pilot circuit arranged to permit the passage of current to said governing means in response to variations in the light reaching such element, a light source arranged to project light in the path of said web and thence to said element whereby variations in the light projected are produced by the passage of said markings, said circuits being arranged to actuate said control device upon the conjunction of one of said markings with the projected light, means for positively deenergizing said electric circuit after it is once energized, and means operating in synchronism with the operating means for periodically placing one of said circuits in condition to be energized upon such conjunction of the light beam and web marking.

17. In apparatus for controlling a continuous web having recurrent markings thereon that are capable of modulating light, the combination comprising means for operating on said web in predetermined relation to said markings, feeding mechanism for gripping said web and moving it to said operating means, a control device which is electrically energized and operates to regulate said feeding mechanism so as to effect registration of said operating means with respect to said markings, an electric circuit for said control device including a relay operable to close such circuit and actuate said control device, a pilot circuit for energizing said relay, a light sensitive cell actuating said pilot circuit arranged to allow passage of energizing current to said relay in accordance with variations in the light cast on said cell, a light source for projecting a beam of lightin the path of said web and thence to said cell whereby variations are produced by said markings, said circuits being arranged to actuate said control device upon conjunction of one of said markings with said light beam, a deepergizing switch in said energizing circuit, and means operating in synchronism with the operating means for opening said switch periodically to restore sait control device to condition for a repeated operation.

18. In apparatus for controlling a continuous web having recurrent control markings thereon, the combination comprising means for operating on said web in predetermined relation to said markings, feeding mechanism for gripping said web and moving it to said operating means, regulating means for said feeeding mechanism for maintaining or effecting registration between said operating means and the markings on said web,

' said regulating means being electro-magnetically controlled and including a control magnet, a light-sensitive. cell, means for transmitting a beam of light from said web to said cell, a circuit for energizing said control magnet including a magnetically controlled switch normally biased to close said circuit, and an electromagnet in circuit with said cell adapted to hold said switch open except when said light beam is interrupted by passage of one of said control markings. 19. In apparatus including a periodically operated cutter for cutting wrappers from a continuous web having recurrent light affecting con trol markings thereon, the combination comprising feeding mechanism for moving said web toward the cutter, an electrically energizable control device which acts when energized to regulate said feeding mechanism so as to effect registration of the markings on said web with respect to a desired point, an energizing circuit for said control device including a magnetically controlled switch, a magnet for operating said switch when energized. a light-sensitive cell, means for projecting a beam of light in the path of said web to be modulated by said markings and thence to said cell, a pilot circuit for said switch magnet including said cell arranged to operate said magnetically controlled switch in accordance with variations of said light beam caused by conjunction of one of said markings therewith, a second switch governing said energizing circuit,

15 light from said web to said cell so as to be modulated by said markings, a device including and controlled by a magnet for incapacitating said feeding mechanism at a desired instant whereby a desired registration of said markings with respect to the cutting means is effected, an electric circuit for energizing said magnet controlled by said cell and arranged to actuate said incapacitating device concurrently with the modulation by one of said markings of light cast on said cell, and mechanical means operating in synchronism with said driving means for restoring said feeding mechanism to condition for a repeated feeding operation.

GEORGE R. WEBBER. 

